PHOENIX – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley men's tennis team opened Western Athletic Conference play with a tough 3-4 loss to the University of Missouri-Kansas City on Friday at the GCU Tennis Facility.
 
UTRGV (2-18, 0-1) fell behind early in the match as they dropped the doubles point. UMKC (7-5, 1-0) got wins on courts one and two before junior Koby Jansen and freshman Clément Sarradin won 6-3 on court three over Vinh Pham and Daniel Izadifar.
 
In singles, both teams went back and forth splitting singles matches. Kaufman picked up a win 6-4, 7-5 win over Uldis Gaismins on court two. Junior Elliot Johnstone also notched a 6-4, 6-2 win over Amaury Navette on court three and it was Sarradin coming away with the 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 win over Tom Kruse court four.
 
UMKC won on courts one, five and six to clinch the match and the conference opener.
 
UTRGV will be back in action on Saturday when they face Seattle University at 10 a.m. at the GCU Tennis Facility.
 
Singles
1. Airam Castellano (UMKC) def. Koby Jansen (UTRGV) 7-6 (4), 1-6, 6-4
2. Yehonatan Kaufman (UTRGV) def. Uldis Gaismins (UMKC) 6-4, 7-5
3. Elliot Johnstone (UTRGV) def. Amaury Navette (UMKC) 6-4, 6-2
4. Clément Sarradin (UTRGV) def. Tom Kruse (UMKC) 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (4)
5. Mike Psarros (UMKC) def. Andres Hernandez (UTRGV) 6-1, 6-3
6. Vinh Pham (UMKC) def. Mateo Schmit (UTRGV) 6-1, 6-1
 
Doubles
1. Airam Castalano/Mike Psarros(UMKC) def. Yehonatan Kaufman/Mateo Schmit (UTRGV) 6-1
2. Amaury Navette/Uldis Gaismins (UMKC) def. Elliot Johnstone/Andres Hernandez (UTRGV) 6-4
3. Koby Jansen/Clement Sarradin (UTRGV) def. Vinh Pham/Daniel Izadifar (UMKC) 6-3

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